Method and apparatus for using local area network as service for edge cloud

Abstract

A method for receiving, by a plurality of user devices within a Local Area Network (LAN), a request to create a local cloud within the LAN, selecting, by one of the plurality of user devices, a master device from among the plurality of user devices, and one or more devices from among the plurality of user devices based on a resource availability, requesting, by the master device, each of the one or more devices to share resources of the device for the local cloud, and configuring, by the master device, the one or more devices as the local cloud. The master device receives a service request for a service to be performed by the local cloud, and distributes a plurality of tasks corresponding to the service to the one or more devices configured as the local cloud according to the resource availability of the one or more devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 initiating, by a first user device among a plurality of user devices within a Local Area Network (LAN), a process to create a local cloud server within the LAN, wherein the local cloud server comprises the plurality of user devices within the LAN; 
 the first device that initiates the process to create the local cloud server acting as a master device of the local cloud server; 
 broadcasting, by the master device to one or more devices from among the plurality of user devices, a request to share resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 receiving, by the master device, from each of the one or more devices the resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 configuring, by the master device, the one or more devices to be part of the local cloud server; receiving, by the master device from a first device within the local cloud server, a service request for a service to be performed by the local cloud server; 
 distributing, by the master device, a plurality of tasks corresponding to the service to the one or more devices configured as the local cloud server according to the resource availability of the one or more devices; 
 receiving, by the master device from a second device within the local cloud server, a disconnection request; 
 checking, by the master device, whether any tasks are active on the second device; and based on determining that there is at least one active task on the second device, 
 disconnecting the second device from the local cloud server subsequent to migrating the at least one active task on the second device to a third device from the local cloud server. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource availability comprises a processing capacity, a storage capacity and a power. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a router in the LAN. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of user devices initiates an election protocol to assign the master device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the master device is selected during LAN initialization prior to the service request. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory configured to store computer program code; and 
 at least one processor configured to access said at least one memory and operate as instructed by said computer program code, said computer program code including: 
 first initiating code configured to cause the at least one processor to initiate, by a first user device among a plurality of user devices within a Local Area Network (LAN), a process to create a local cloud server within the LAN, wherein the local cloud server comprises the plurality of user devices within the LAN; 
 first selecting code configured to cause the at least one processor to appoint, by the first device that initiates the process to create the local cloud server, itself as a master device of the local cloud server; 
 broadcasting code configured to cause the at least one processor to broadcast, by the master device to one or more devices from among the plurality of user devices, a request to share resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 first receiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, by the master device, from each of the one or more devices the resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 configuration code configured to cause the at least one processor to configure, by the master device, the one or more devices to be a part of the local cloud server; 
 second receiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, by the master device from a first device within the local cloud server, a service request for a service to be performed by the local cloud server; 
 distributing code configured to cause the at least one processor to distribute, by the master device, a plurality of tasks corresponding to the service to the one or more devices configured as the local cloud server according to the resource availability of the one or more devices; 
 third receiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receive, by the master device from a second device within the local cloud server, a disconnection request; 
 checking code configured to cause the at least one processor to check, by the master device, whether any tasks are active on the second device; and 
 first determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to, based on determining that there is at least one active task on the second device, disconnect the second device from the local cloud server subsequent to migrating the at least one active task on the second device to a third device from the local cloud server. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the resource availability comprises a processing capacity, a storage capacity and a power. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first device is a router in the LAN. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one of the plurality of user devices initiates an election protocol to assign the master device. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the master device is selected during LAN initialization prior to, the service request. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores computer code which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to at least:
 initiate, by a first user device among a plurality of user devices within a Local Area Network (LAN), a process to create a local cloud server within the LAN, wherein the local cloud server comprises the plurality of user devices within the LAN; 
 appointing, by the first device that initiates the process to create the local cloud server, itself as a master device of the local cloud server; 
 broadcast, by the master device to one or more devices from among the plurality of user devices, a request to share resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 receive, by the master device, from each of the one or more devices the resource availability of each of the one or more devices for the local cloud server; 
 
       configure, by the master device, the one or more devices to be a part of the local cloud server;
 receive, by the master device from a first device within the local cloud server, a service request for a service to be performed by the local cloud server; 
 distribute, by the master device, a plurality of tasks corresponding to the service to the one or more devices configured as the local cloud server according to the resource availability of the one or more devices; 
 receive, by the master device from a second device within the local cloud server, a disconnection request; 
 check, by the master device, whether any tasks are active on the second device; and 
 based on determining that there is at least one active task on the second device, disconnect the second device from the local cloud server subsequent to migrating the at least one active task on the second device to a third device from the local cloud server. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the resource availability comprises a processing capacity, a storage capacity and a power. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first device is a router in the LAN. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the one of the plurality of user devices initiates an election protocol to assign the master device. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the master device is selected during LAN initialization prior to, the service request.